Improvement in vessels for the formation of ice



N.PETEHS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C BENJAMiN T. EABBITT, on NEw YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN VESSELS FOR THE FORMATION OF ICE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. $5,781, dated January 12, 1869.

To all whom t may concern: i

Be it known that I, BENJAMN T. BABBITT, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Freezing-Vessels for Making Ice; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, in which is represented a sectional elevation of a freezing-vessel constructed according to my improvement, different letters of reference indicating the several parts thereof.

The object of this invention is to provide in a convenient manner for the freezing of ice in blocks of convenient size upon the premises of the consumer, or in places where it is difficult or impossible to obtain ice of good qual- `ity directly from lakes, ponds, or other natural waters; and to this end it consists in a novel arrangement, within a freezing-vessel or mold, of a collapsible ball or chamber, against which the pressure resulting from expansion of freezing water is exerted, to the relief of the sides of the vessel or mold.

In order that others may be better enabled to understand the construction and operation of my invention, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawings.

A is an open vessel or mold of any desirable material, size, and formation, but preferably of sheet metal, or other thin good con ducting material, and of a size and formation sufficient and suitable for containing a block ofv ice of about double the size, which is most convenient for storage and transportation, and with its cavity sufficiently tapering from the top toward the bottom, so as to afford a more convenient disengagement of the blocks of ice from the said mold.

B is a hollow buoyant ball, of india-rubber or other impervious and elastic substance, filled with air, and so attached within the vessel, by means of astring or other suitable means, to hook h, projecting up from the inwater, in freezing from the sides of the vessel toward its center, and consequently expanding in that direction, exerts its expanding force against the compressible ball B, which, by means of the elasticity of the confined air therein, yields more readily than the sides of r the vessel or mold, and thus, by giving space for said expansion, relieves the sides of the vessel or mold entirely, or nearly so, of the strain, thereby preventing bursting or other injury thereto.

After the freezing of the water the block of ice is turned out and sawed asunder, or otherwise divided through its center, in such a manner as to release the ball B from its confinement, when the said ball maybe reattaehed within the vessel or mold, and said vessel or mold again lled with water for a repetition of the operation.

In this manner ice may be obtained in convenient form for use, at a triding expense, in any place where moderate frost occurs.

I am aware that it is not new to protect vessels from injury by the expansion of Water in freezing, by means of compressible air-vessels within them, as shown in the patent numbered 46,773, for a water-pipe; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to have secured by Letters Patent, is

The freezing vessel or mold constructed so that its frozen contents may be turned out, and provided at its center with a collapsible ball or chamber, for the purpose .of relieving its sides of the expanding force of the freezing water, substantially as herein set forth.

B. T. BABBITT.

fitnesses z A. LE CLERC, A. KINNIER. 

